Speaking at a public rally in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency of the Gandhi scion, Irani said the Congress leader was making fun of development in Gujarat but has no answer for the lack of it in his own backyard in Amethi.

"A vast stretch of land was given by farmers long back for construction of the Samrat cycle factory and when nothing much happened there is an effort to occupy the land illegally and despite eviction notice they are not letting the land go," she added. She said if Rahul Gandhi was listening to her speech, he should answer a lot of questions.

Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of "insulting" the people of Gujarat and claimed that the Congress will suffer what she called a "historic defeat" in the upcoming assembly polls.

"The manner in which Rahul Gandhi has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress party in the state election," said the Union minister for textiles and information and broadcasting in a statement.

Development is not something to be ridiculed, instead it should be welcomed but what Rahul Gandhi is doing in Gujarat is to insult the dreams and aspirations of 6.5 crore Gujaratis, she said.

Rahul's Gandhi's remark came after several Union ministers came out in support of Shah's son Jay Amit Shah. "Amazing transition from Beti Bachao to Beta Bachao," Rahul said on Twitter, using the term "Shehzada" to describe Shah's son.

While tagging a copy of the report on Twitter, published by news website The Wire, Gandhi on Monday had taken a jibe at the BJP chief,"We finally found the only beneficiary of demonetisation. It's not the RBI, the poor or the farmers. It's the Shah-in-Shah of Demo. Jai Amit."

This speculation may be true according to a report in The Times of India. Citing three instances, the report added that Rahul has turned contemplative during his recent Gujarat trip. On Monday, the Gandhi scion said,that BJP's constant criticism of him opened his eyes and helped him learn.

Rahul has also said in the past that Congress' 2014 loss helped being beneficial to the party. The report noted that last month, Rahul said the Congress had become 'arrogant', which is why it lost in 2014.

Rahul also hit out at the NDA government over the economy and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) not exceed 18 percent. "In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 percent under the GST... They should revert to the 18 percent tax slab," Gandhi said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses. Demonetisation resulted in loss of business of many small traders, he said. The famed Gujarat model of development had failed, the Congress leader added.

Amethi had witnessed a high-pitched electoral battle between Gandhi and Irani in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Though she lost, Irani managed to reduce the Congress leader's victory margin from around 3.70 lakh votes in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

Taking a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Smriti Irani has claimed that visits by her and senior BJP leaders had ensured that the people of the district were seeing more of the Congress vice-president.

The BJP is facing an embarrassing social media blitzkrieg in Gujarat under the theme, Vikas Gando Thayo Chhey (Development has gone bonkers) and Maara Haara Chhetri Gaya (They took us for a neat ride) taunting at the development claims of the state and Central governments. And it is not a campaign by the Congress, which is yet to demonstrate anything so effective anywhere, leave alone Gujarat.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a media report which had claimed that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay had recorded huge increase in turnover after the saffron party came to power in 2014.

Congress vice-president said that the BJP government had promised development funds for tribal areas, jobs for the youth and irrigation water for the farms. He added that the prime minister has failed on all these fronts and betrayed the people with hollow talks.

17:55 (IST)

Rahul again attacks Modi, asks him to speak on Jay Shah row

Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi today stepped up his attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the alleged business dealings of BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay, asking him if he was a "partner" in the "theft".

He also criticised Union ministers and BJP leaders who defended Jay Shah, saying they should change the name of the government's flagship scheme for the girl child — "Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao"— to "Amit Shah ke bete ko bachao".

As Rahul Gandhi was on the second day of his tour in Gujarat, BJP top brass targetted the Congress V-P from his Lok Sabha constituency in Uttar Pradesh.

Yogi Adityanath accused him of being more interested in Italy than in the people of his parliamentary constituency Amethi. He also taunted the Amethi MP for not coming to his parliamentary constituency often and rather visiting Italy more.

Ever since a story published in The Wire has raised questions over the the business dealings of Amit Shah's son, Rahul Gandhi hasn't been at a public meeting where he did not bring up the issue. In the form of subtle retorts, or sharp jibes, the prolific rise of Jay Shah's business has spiced up the Gandhi scion's speech in the BJP chief's home state.

Meanwhile, Shah, who was in Amethi, didn't spare Gandhi at his constituency. "Instead of making a mockery of development in Gujarat, Rahul should focus on development in Amethi," Shah said.

Meanwhile... Former Gujarat CM Anandiben Patel takes a dig at Rahul Gandhi over his comment on RSS

BJP leader Anandiben Patel demanded an apology from the Congress vice-president over his comments on women's participation in RSS shakhas.

Gandhi had apparently asked the people if they have ever seen any women in shakhas. "Their organisation is the RSS. How many women are there in the RSS... Have you ever seen any woman in shakhas wearing shorts?" he had said in a sarcastic tone.

Patel, however, took exception to the comment and sought an apology from the party for the Gandhi scion's 'inappropriate and insulting comments.' She also advised Gandhi to do a google search to find out facts, adding that RSS has had separate branches for women since a long time.

16:00 (IST)

'Gujarat will play a leading role in nation's progress'

Gujarat is set to see a pitched battle in this year's polls as the Congress party is going all out to woo voters playing up the anti-incumbency factor in the prime minister's home turf. Rahul Gandhi, in his Navsarjan Yatra, leaves no opportunity to criticise the BJP-led government's policies.

Addressing a rally in Dabhoi, Gandhi said that the Gujarat was teh land thatt gave India the 'white revolution' and leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Patel. He said that if lead in the right way, the state had the potential to lead the entire nation on the path to progress.

15:55 (IST)

'Congress party will ensure you get your rights'

Rahul Gandhi hit out at Narendra Modi over farm crisis in India. He said that farmers are commiting suicide all across the country but the Centre was ignornt towards their plight.

Claiming that if a Congress government was elected, he will ensure that the farmers get the right prices they deserve, and if need be the party will also consider waiving off loans.

15:46 (IST)

Vikas has gone 'pagal' in Gujarat

Slamming the BJP government in Gujarat over its claims of development, Rahul Gandhi sarcastically said, "I am going to send a letter to Guinness Book of World Records as for the first time 'vikas' has gone mad."

Speaking at a public rally in Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, the parliamentary constituency of the Gandhi scion, Irani said the Congress leader was making fun of development in Gujarat but has no answer for the lack of it in his own backyard in Amethi.

"A vast stretch of land was given by farmers long back for construction of the Samrat cycle factory and when nothing much happened there is an effort to occupy the land illegally and despite eviction notice they are not letting the land go," she added. She said if Rahul Gandhi was listening to her speech, he should answer a lot of questions.

Union minister Smriti Irani on Monday accused Rahul Gandhi of "insulting" the people of Gujarat and claimed that the Congress will suffer what she called a "historic defeat" in the upcoming assembly polls.

"The manner in which Rahul Gandhi has made fun of the dreams and aspirations of the people of Gujarat will lead to a historic defeat for the Congress party in the state election," said the Union minister for textiles and information and broadcasting in a statement.

Development is not something to be ridiculed, instead it should be welcomed but what Rahul Gandhi is doing in Gujarat is to insult the dreams and aspirations of 6.5 crore Gujaratis, she said.

"Congress government will soon come to power in Gujarat, it will work for the interests of farmers, small traders and the poor. Last time, he (Modi) waived the loans of the rich. We will instead bring a loan waiver for farmers," Rahul said in his Padra rally.

Rahul's Gandhi's remark came after several Union ministers came out in support of Shah's son Jay Amit Shah. "Amazing transition from Beti Bachao to Beta Bachao," Rahul said on Twitter, using the term "Shehzada" to describe Shah's son.

14:24 (IST)

The mood at the Karjan rally of Rahul Gandhi

When Rahul Gandhi wondered at a public meeting in Karjan, "Jab Narendra Modiji pradhan mantri baney to unhone kaha mein Chowkidar hun, to ab kyon chup hain (When he became the prime minister, he said that he will be a "chowkidaar", but why he is silent now?)," the crowds screamed chor hain, chor.

Gandhi was referring to the media expose on BJP chief Amit Shah's son. And when he said, "Ye chowkidaar hey ke bhaagidar", there was a huge laughter as people responded almost in unison, "bhaagidar", amid deafening whistles.

Crowds also screamed, "Jutho chhey, Jutho chhey (he is a liar, referring to Modi)", in the same breathe.

While tagging a copy of the report on Twitter, published by news website The Wire, Gandhi on Monday had taken a jibe at the BJP chief,"We finally found the only beneficiary of demonetisation. It's not the RBI, the poor or the farmers. It's the Shah-in-Shah of Demo. Jai Amit."

In a major boost for the ruling BJP before the Assembly elections, the party has won five of the seven local bodies in Gujarat. The party has also won a seat in Gandhinagar's Randheja taluka. It is to be noted that the party won only two of the seven bodies in the last elections.

"People of Gujarat have experienced development. Rahul must look at what he has done to Amethi. While he asks what Modi has done in last three years, Rahul must answer what his family has done for Amethi and India," BJP president Amit Shah told the gathering in Amethi.

While Rahul ended his speech, urging Gujarati populace to vote for Congress, the public in Karjan began shouting slogans like, "Congress aveche", which roughly translates to "Congress is coming."

13:26 (IST)

Rahul Gandhi attacks BJP over noteban

Congress vice-president said that the Modi government looted Indians through note ban. Rahul Gandhi added that the move only impacted the daily wage workers, unemployed and the working class people, and said the demonetisation drive only helped a group of 10-15 industrialists.

13:23 (IST)

Rahul attacks Amit Shah's son once again

"It was sheer magic that Rs 50,000 became Rs 80 crores in just few months. While successful companies run longer, I don't know why it was closed in 2016. It is happening in a country where the chowkidaar (Modi) is ruling India, Why he is silent when there has been a theft? It seems now it is Amit Shah ke bete ko bacchao", Rahul Gandhi told a public gathering in Karjan.

13:13 (IST)

After former Leader of Opposition Shaktisinh Gohil, Gujarat Congress chief Bharatsinh Solanki is addressing the gathering

13:10 (IST)

Rahul Gandhi is live from Karjan

13:03 (IST)

Smriti Irani says Rahul has no right to preach on 'vikaas'

"Those who do not the difference between relay transmission and FM radio station should not talk about 'vikaas'," Smriti irani said in an apparent dig at Rahul Gandhi.

This speculation may be true according to a report in The Times of India. Citing three instances, the report added that Rahul has turned contemplative during his recent Gujarat trip. On Monday, the Gandhi scion said,that BJP's constant criticism of him opened his eyes and helped him learn.

Rahul has also said in the past that Congress' 2014 loss helped being beneficial to the party. The report noted that last month, Rahul said the Congress had become 'arrogant', which is why it lost in 2014.

Gujarat govt reduces VAT on petrol by 4 percent. With the latest announcement, petrol prices have been cut by Rs 2.93 and diesel by Rs 2.72. On the latest announcement, Congress Shaktisinh Gohil said, "This decision was taken in view of the support that Rahul Gandhi is getting across the state. This was done with an eye on elections," he told reporters.

Rahul also hit out at the NDA government over the economy and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) not exceed 18 percent. "In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 percent under the GST... They should revert to the 18 percent tax slab," Gandhi said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses. Demonetisation resulted in loss of business of many small traders, he said. The famed Gujarat model of development had failed, the Congress leader added.

Amethi had witnessed a high-pitched electoral battle between Gandhi and Irani in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Though she lost, Irani managed to reduce the Congress leader's victory margin from around 3.70 lakh votes in 2009 to 1.07 lakh in 2014.

Taking a jibe at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Union minister Smriti Irani has claimed that visits by her and senior BJP leaders had ensured that the people of the district were seeing more of the Congress vice-president.

On a tour of Gujarat, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a media report which had claimed that a company owned by BJP chief Amit Shah's son Jay had recorded huge increase in turnover after the saffron party came to power in 2014.

"Where has the chowkidar (watchman) gone," Gandhi asked, apparently referring to Modi's earlier statement that he does not want to behave like a prime minister but a 'chowkidar' (watchman) of the country's wealth.

The Congress vice-president, who began the second leg of his campaign tour in poll-bound home state of Modi, raked up the issue to target the prime minister as also Shah at about 10 small and big public meetings that he addressed throughout the day.

He also cajoled the media to ask questions without fearing Modi and Shah.

Rahul, who landed at Ahmedabad airport this morning, travelled to the Hatijan area of the city from where he started his tour in a specially designed bus. He travelled from Ahmedabad to Vadodara, addressing small and big public gatherings at around 10 places in the day.

Referring to newspaper reports which quoted a news website The Wire, Gandhi said the company owned by Shah's son grew 16,000 times in a short span.

Rahul Gandhi at the student interaction in Vadodara on Tuesday. Facebook/Gujarat Congress

"This is a strange world. In 2014, the company was nothing. Modi ji came (to power in 2014) and launched 'Start up India', 'Make in India', then introduced demonetisation and GST. This destroyed small businessmen and farmers," Gandhi told a gathering at Kamla village in Kheda district.

"But from this fire, one company comes up. It was nothing in 2014 but in a few months it became so big that this company's worth of Rs 50,000 rose to Rs 80 crore," he said.

Mentioning the entrepreneurial skills of Gujaratis for which they are well known, Gandhi asked whether they can do such thing.

Recalling Modi's assertion that he would neither engage in corruption nor allow it to happen, the Congress leader said, "Now when Amit Shah's son's company has grown 16,000 times, Modi ji has gone silent."

"Modi ji had also said another thing (before the elections) that he does not want to become prime minister and be the 'chowkidar' (watchman) of the country's wealth. Now, where has the chowkidar gone?" Rahul asked.

In his brief interaction with the media, he was asked about his Gujarat campaign tour.

"Why don't you media ask question to Narendra Modi? Why don't you ask this thing to Amit Shah? Are you afraid of them. Have some courage to ask them such questions," he said.

The Congress vice-president also hit out at the NDA government over the state of economy, and demanded that the rates under the Goods and Services Tax not exceed 18 percent.

"In spite of our request to the Centre, they are charging rates of over 18 per cent under the GST...They should revert to the 18 per cent tax slab," Rahul said, adding high taxes have ruined many businesses.

Demonetisation resulted in loss of business of many small traders, he said.

The famed Gujarat model of development had failed, the Congress leader said.

"Modi and the people of Gujarat know that the so-called Gujarat model has failed. If we come to power, we will propagate the old Gujarat model under which cooperative societies like Amul developed," he said.

Rahul also attacked the government over its failure to create jobs.

India, he said, is competing with China these days. China creates 50,000 jobs every day, but India under the Modi government is able to generate just 450 jobs per day, he said.

"This is because their focus is on development of 100 big industries. When the Congress comes to power, it will develop small and medium scale industries which can create many more jobs," Rahul said.